Chelsea fancied to keep it going at Anfield

Premier League leaders Chelsea remain unbeaten after 10 matches, eight of which have ended in victory.

And having racked up a four-point lead at the table’s summit, Jose Mourinho’s men are already just 4/11 with Paddy Power to be crowned champions.

By contrast, Liverpool are continuing to struggle for both form and goals so they could probably do without a visit from the buoyant Blues, who understandably arrive at Anfield as William Hill’s 23/20 favourites.

For their part, the Reds, whose title aspirations last season were effectively ended in April’s corresponding fixture, are Stan James’s 13/5 outsiders and it’s 5/2 with bet365 for the pair to share the spoils – a result that wouldn’t be considered disastrous for either side.

However, Chelsea would have a 100 per cent record were it not for late equalisers from both Manchester sides and they have the nous to nick it on Merseyside, where an away victory by a one-goal margin is a generous 3/1 via Ladbrokes.

More specifically, the Blues are 8/1 (BetVictor) to capitalise on the hosts’ current lack of cutting edge by grabbing the only goal, Skybet price a win ‘to nil’ for Mourinho’s charges at 3/1 and it’s 7/2 at betway for the visitors’ prolific front man Diego Costa to break the deadlock.

Manchester City will be hoping Liverpool can cause an upset as they seek to close the gap on the table’s summit and Manuel Pellegrini’s side are 4/9 with Stan James to keep up their side of the bargain as they travel to struggling QPR (15/2, bet365).

City certainly hold the aces ahead of the Loftus Road encounter and they’re 21/20 in BetVictor’s handicaps when starting a goal in arrears but the best bet in West London is actually Rangers-related.

Front man Charlie Austin has started to look the part of late with three goals in his last two outings and he’s too big at 7/2 (Skybet) to get on the scoresheet at any time, even if it’s likely his efforts will be in vain.

In Sunday’s big televised clash, Stan James rate Arsenal as 6/5 jollies as they travel to Swansea but the Swans scrapped their way to a decent point at Everton last time out and BetVictor make them an enticing-looking 5/2 to do likewise against the Gunners.

Second-placed Southampton should fare a touch better, Stan James chalking them up at 1/2 to get the better of faltering Leicester on the south coast and Manchester United are an even skinnier 1/3, this time at William Hill, as they entertain Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. That duo double up at a generous evens courtesy of Ladbrokes.

Tottenham’s fight-back against Aston Villa should stand them in good stead at home to Stoke and Winner.com quote Spurs at 8/13 to grab another maximum haul.

West Ham can also register a victory on their own patch, this time at the expense of freefalling Aston Villa, a result Skybet offer at 4/5.

Elsewhere, recent improvements for both sides suggests that West Brom and Newcastle will divide the points at the Hawthorns (12/5, bet365), Stan James go 21/20 about an Everton triumph at Sunderland and bet365 price Burnley at 8/5 to finally pick up their first win, as they take on Hull at Turf Moor.

Rugby Union’s autumn internationals get under way this week, with England starting their campaign against the mighty All Blacks at Twickenham.

Stuart Lancaster’s side will start as Stan James’s 11/4 underdogs while the world champions are just 1/3 at bet365 to emerge triumphant and accordingly the hosts receive an eight-point start at 10/11 in BetVictor’s handicaps.

However, with injuries restricting their options amongst the forwards, England could be up against it and bet365 quote New Zealand at an appealing even money to overhaul that eight-point advantage.

In Cardiff, Paddy Power price Wales at 7/5 to get the better of Australia (4/6, Stan James) and at 10/11, aided by a three-point cushion, in Winner.com’s handicaps, the home side are worth considering.

Finally, Skybet rate South Africa at 4/9 to defeat the Irish in Dublin and Ladbrokes chalk the Springboks up at 10/11 to make short work of the hosts’ six-point boost.

Switching codes to Rugby League, and after their controversial, narrow reverse against Australia, England now have to comfortably see off New Zealand to stand a chance of reaching the Four Nations final.

However, Steve McNamara’s side are bet365’s 15/8 underdogs in Dunedin, where the hosts are just 4/9 (Paddy Power) to make it three wins from three and in BetVictor’s handicaps, the visitors benefit from a six-point start at 10/11.